Right-of-Way Specialist

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Announcement #

2024-078

Issue Date:

04-18-24

Closing Date:

Right-of-Way Realty Specialist

Trust Real Estate Services

Department of Natural Resources

Hourly Wage: $26.94/Regular/Full-Time

The Yakama Nation Trust Real Estate Services Program has a trust responsibility to protect and improve trust assets of the Yakama Reservation and Yakama Public Domains. The duties performed assist in carrying out the trust responsibility as stated in PL-638 Scope of Work and the Franchise Fee Mission Statement, 25 CFR, 43 CFR and other applicable federal and tribal laws, regulations, resolutions and land use plans. As such, all documents become the property of the United States.

The employee is responsible for technical accuracy and legal sufficiency of realty transactions containing rights-of-way and easements. The employee will work assist clients in the steps needed to process a complete trust land right-of-way or easement package. The employee will compute, divides, distributes income payments, assist landowners, explains interests, appraisals, schedule of damages and regulations.

Examples of Work Performed:

Receives applications for rights-of-way and easements for power lines, service lines, pipelines, telephone-telegraph-telecommunication lines, radio and television transmitters, repeaters, communication facilities, and tribal or public highways.

Drafts surveys and estimates of value. Processes and mails owner consents that includes an explanation about the request and appraisal. Prepares and forwards documents and recommendations to the Realty Officer prior to obtaining Superintendent's approval.

Prepares appraisal requests on leases/permits that expire annually and rental reviews within OASIS, providing all required documents needed to process valuation report.

When preparing a right-of-way; cites approval authority and ensures all legal requirements are met, checks documents for signatures or initial where required, landowner consents filed or Land Committee Action is attached and sets up permanent lease file, encodes and scans into

As the reviewing and recommending officer, verifies completeness, accuracy, and compliances on all rights-of-way and easement documents. Ensures financial or other compensation is in line with the fair market appraisal.

Reviews and verifies ownership for accuracy, checks tribal or life estate interests and type of ownership, joint tenancy or tenants with right of survivorship, and other types of ownership such as fee interest, etc.

Provides technical assistance and reviews easements with tribal officials for approvals. Reviews ownership and the long-term effects of a right-of-way or easement with individuals and tribal officials.

Ensures compliances with federal, state, and tribal statutes and rules that govern air quality, control and environmental issues.

Reviews proposals, land use plans, flood plains, zoning, agricultural uses, home-site, and other potential uses that pertain to rights-of-way and easement issues.

Assists with daily distributions of land income reports, TSR's and ITI's (Individual Tribal Interests).

Reviews and confirms payments are entered in TAAMS and process payments for distribution to landowners. Employee will verify ownership prior to distribution of lease and land sale distribution.

Occasional work assignments may require working in rough terrain such as agricultural fields, range areas, or mountainous timbered areas in various weather conditions.

Conducts field inspections to review proposed land use. Observes neighboring lands, creeks, other rights-of-way, and evaluates impact.

Inspects rights-of-way construction projects to ensure any objects being placed are within the approved survey. Is cognizant of safety rules and clothing items worn at a construction site.

On a case-by-case basis, forwards documents to the Office of the Solicitor, Northwest Regional Office for legal review and recommendations.

Provides assistance in other Realty Sections as workload allows and will cross train Realty Specialist I/II to understand section requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of 25 CFR, 43 CFR, federal and tribal laws, Indian Land Consolidation Act.

Knowledge of American Indian Probate Reform Act and Yakama Inheritance Act of 1946.

Knowledge of Yakama Treaty of 1855.

Knowledge of all probate laws and codes, which will affect cases, trust and personal probate process.

Knowledge of reading, writing and platting legal descriptions, locating land or locations on maps.

Knowledge of tribal offices affecting land use.

Knowledge or appraisal process, requesting on OASIS, reviewing reports.

Knowledge of TAAMS system for encoding leases, payment processing, date of deaths and acquisition and disposal.

Knowledge of general office procedures, filing and correspondence.

Knowledge of TEAMS Microsoft program and Google Map Pro.

Knowledge of Yakama Nation traditions, customs and practices.

Knowledge of a life use/estates, remaindermen and joint tenancy in common or right of survivorship.

Skills in personal computer, hardware, and a variety of software programs, and other office equipment including copiers, printers, scanners, faxes and calculators.

Skills in lease rental of leases due for payment verification of estates.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to meet and deal with other employees of this branch in respectful, cordial, prompt manner and occasionally with staff from other offices/agencies within the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal offices, Tribal Enterprises, county offices, state offices, law firms and clients.

Ability to read and understand routine procedures to complete jobs.

Ability to proofread, check for adherence to laws & policies, to ensure accurate documents.

Ability to work independently and on own initiative productively.

Ability to plan and to set own priorities.

Ability to work under stress and on deadlines.

Ability to problem solve within short periods and work with difficult people.

Ability to prioritize, manage workload and work under stress.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelors Degree in natural resources or related field required.

Four years of documented satisfactory and responsible work experience in rights-of-way and easements.

Required to pass pre-employment drug test.

Required to pass pre-employment criminal background check by BIA.

Must possess a valid Washington State Driver's License with the ability to obtain a Yakama Nation Driving Permit.

Enrolled Yakama Preference, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Preferred Requirements:

Training relative to real estate services, natural resources, cultural or other land related field is desired but not required.